The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-16
A GENUINE LONDON FOG.
Beautiful Atmospheric Phenomena in
the Great Metropolis.

the Great Metropolis.
From the Ne,c York World
LONDON, Dec. al have often heard
American visitors in London say that they
wished they could experience a real London
fog. Most people who come here are very
much disappointed if they do not at once
meet with oil the experiences common to
London life. London is greatly celebrated
for its fogs. was here last spring during
the stormy months of March and April,
and during that time thought that the at
mosphere became thick enough to be consiG-
cred toggy, but was told there was no real
fog during that time. The month which has
Just passed, November, is the month of the
worst fogs. Fortunate American visitors
in London at this time have been able to see
what real London fog is The fog, made
up of smoke, cloud and gloom, which has
swept down upon London two or three
Tunes during the past month, certainly
could not be matched in any other city of
the world. What is known as black fog
generally follows sharp hoar frost Intense
cold is the basis OF the fogs. The air be-
comes in the first place excessively damp
and then there sweeps down upon the town
great cloud, mingling with the sooty
smoke until it chokes the streets, enters
houses, attacks the throat and eyes, and in
tirely in the streets.
The fogs of this month have been very
peculiar. They would begin black and then
would change to light The sun every now
and then would seek to break through the
cold mass of fog, SCOT and CRIME, but it
never succeeded. The wind alone is able to
carry off the fog, but the yellow light of
the sun shimmering through the fog pro-
duces at times strange effects The town
would seem to be standing IN some sort of
floating mixture, and then the sun would
disappear and the fog would change almost
as soon as it could be told into black, cold
dense mass of solid cloud and smoke. Twice
during the month this black fog became SO
dense, so dark and SO think that you could
not see foot beyond you in looking out of
the window. OF course gas would be
lighted all over the town. Out in the streets
you could not see half way across, and great
care had to be exercised in going about. In
the direction of the underground railroad
the fog was the thickest and at the worst.
In addition to the darkness and inconve-
nience Of not being able to see where you
are going, having to exercise extraordinary
precautions against being run over, there
was also a constant choking feeling occas-
Toned by the difficulty in breathing the
horrible atmosphere of SCOT and smoke.
More than this, the intense cold and the
excessive dampneSS were harder to endure
than the cold in the most northerly
countries. The touch of the fog
was like ice. Its dampness and its cold
penetrated to the very marrow of ones
bones. 1t was almost impossible to heat the
rooms or house when the icy breath of the
fog was coming in at every opening. I'm
less house were kept tightly closed against
the invading gloom it became filled and
choked. The sensation of oppression from
the presence of the fog in the town was
something that could only be overcome by
those who have strong health and great
vital resources. Every time a black fog
visits London it means death to a number
of old and delicate people 1t is particu-
larly fatal to infants and to people with
lung or throat troubles. People with a
tendency to lung or throat troubles cannot
live in London in the winter without having
their maladies greatly aggravated. But
there is this much to be said about even this
fog infection: 1t does not endure very long
at time 1t is rare for a fog of
the intensely disagreeable character men
toned to last more than six or eight hours.
The longest fog on record is the celebrated
fog of eight or ten years ago. This fog
continued for thirty-six hours. 1t was so
black and so dark that people could not see
more than two feet beyond them. Traffic
during that thirtY-six hours was entirely
suspended The great business of London
was brought to a standstill and kept in
check by this black and most merciless fog.
Few people ventured out of doors, and the
police on their beats with difficulty were
able to find their accustomed points to guard
and visit During the thirty six hours that
this celebrated fog continued there was not
breath of air stirring The moment that
the wind begins to blow the fog shifts and
the worst is soon over.